Multi-functional car-top carrier device

ABSTRACT

A multi-functional car-top carrier device is provided herein. The car-top carrier device mainly contains a pair of railing member, each having a number of end-to-end rails. The inner rails support a number of base boards for storage and sleeping. The top rails support a number of foldable posts for raising a top board and mosquito nets. The outer rails support bicycle support members which can be pulled out and slanted on the ground for the easy loading and unloading of bicycles. A foldable ladder is attached to a bicycle support member.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to car-top carriers, and more particularly to a car-top carrier device having multiple functions such as carrying bicycles, storing luggage, and providing sleeping space.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Car-top or car rooftop carriers are convenient when people don't have enough space in their cars. However, most conventional car-top carriers are designed for a single purpose such as carrying bicycles or storing luggage. Most of all, none of them can provide sleeping space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a multi-functional car-top carrier device is provided herein. The car-top carrier device mainly contains a pair of railing member, each having a number of end-to-end rails. The inner rails support a number of base boards for storage and sleeping. The top rails support a number of foldable posts for raising a top board and mosquito nets. The outer rails support bicycle support members which can be pulled out and slanted on the ground for the easy loading and unloading of bicycles. A foldable ladder is attached to a bicycle support member.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view showing the various components of a car-top carrier device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the connection of the bicycle support members of the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the locking element of the top board of the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the various components of the ladder of the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the various components of the post of the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1 when it is not in use.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing how bicycles are carried by the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing how a sleeping space is established by the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing how bicycles are loaded onto and unloaded from the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the folding and unfolding of the ladder of the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing how bicycles are carried by the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing some luggage is carried by the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability of configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view showing the various components of a car-top carrier device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the car-top carrier device mainly contains a pair of linear railing members 1 positioned in parallel along the left and right sides of a car's rooftop, respectively. Each railing member 1 has three end-to-end rails: an inner rail facing towards the other railing member 1, a top rail facing upwards, and an outer rail facing outwards opposite to the inner rail. The inner rails allow a number of base boards 1-1 to be slid in on which people can sleep or luggage can be placed. A number of foldable posts 3 can have their one ends slid in the top rails of the railing members 1. A rectangular top board 4 has at least four locking elements 4-2 at the four corners, respectively, allowing the top board 4 to be fixedly positioned at an appropriate height along the posts 3. Then, mosquito nets 4-2 can be attached to the edges of the top board 4 so that people can sleep on the base boards 1-1 in the wilderness.

The car-top carrier device has bicycle support members 1-2 and 1-3 attached to each railing member 1. Each of the bicycle support members 1-2 and 1-3 has an end-to-end top rail so that the bicycle support members 1-2 and 1-3 can be slid into and out of the outer rail of each railing member 1. Each of the bicycle support members 1-2 and 1-3 further has two end-to-end side rails aligned in parallel on an outer side, and an end-to-end inner rail on an inner side. A ladder 2 has its top slid into the inner rail of a bicycle support member 1-2 so that the ladder 2 can be positioned to a side of the car, for accessing the car's rooftop. At least a bicycle fastening belt 1-6 has its one end slid into the upper rail of a bicycle support member 1-2 for wrapping around the wheel rim of a bicycle.

The car-top carrier device has a front diversion plate 1-5 fixedly attached to the front ends of the railing members 1 across the car's rooftop. A back diversion plate 1-4 has two rods in parallel for threading into the bicycle support members 1-2 so that the back diversion plate 1-4 is retractably attached to the back ends of the bicycle support members 1-2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shorter, front bicycle support member 1-3 is attached to the longer, back bicycle support member 1-2 by a hinge element 1-8. The hinge element 1-8 has its one end embedded into the top rail of the front bicycle support member 1-3 and the other end embedded into the top rail of the back bicycle support member 1-2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mosquito nets 4-1 are attached to a rectangular frame 4-1, which in turn is fixedly attached to the bottom of the top board 4. The four locking element 4-2 are fixedly positioned in four through holes 4-5 of the top board 4, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ladder 2 contains a number of tubular steps 2-4, each having a through hole at each end, respectively. The side rails of the ladder 2 also have aligned through holes 2-2 along their lengths, respectively. As such, the two ends of each step 2-4 are locked to the side rails by having two pins 2-4 run through the through holes 2-2 and the through holes of step 2-4, respectively. The head step 2-4 contains two shorter sections with a joining T-shaped connector 2-1 therebetween. The connector 2-1 has an end for sliding into the inner rail of a bicycle support member 1-2. As the steps 2-4 are pin-joined to the side rails, the ladder 2 can be folded together as shown in FIG. 10. After folding, the folded ladder 2 can be placed beneath the bicycle support member 1-2.

As shown in FIG. 5, each post 3 contains an upper tubular section and a lower tubular section having a bendable mechanism 3-2 therebetween. The bendable mechanism 3-2 contains a spring 3-5 whose two ends are fixedly attached two pins 3-4, respectively. The two pints 3-4 run diametrically through the two sections via their through holes 3-3, respectively, so that the two sections are flexibly joined together. The lower section has an elongated cut 3-6 at its top end so that the upper section can be positioned at an right angle to the lower section with the spring 3-5 fitted in the cut 3-6. The lower section has a head 3-1 at its bottom end for sliding into the top rail of a railing member 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the car-top carrier device of FIG. 1 when it is not in use. As illustrated, the posts 3 are folded and the top board 4 completely rests on the base boards 1-1 with the mosquito nets 4-1 hidden therebetween. On the other hand, the ladder 2 is also folded and fastened beneath a bicycle support member 1-2.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, when carrying bicycles, the bicycles are parked on the lower rails of the bicycle support members 1-2. Then, the wheel fastening belts 1-6 wrap around and fixes the front and back wheels of the bicycles, respectively. On the other hand, bicycle fastening belts 1-7 have their one ends slid into the top rails of the railing members 1 and the other ends held the crossbars of the bicycles.

As shown in FIG. 8, after the car is parked, the posts 3 can be turned into full erection. The top board 4 along with the mosquito nets 4-1 then can be lifted up. The locking elements 4-2 fix the top board 4 at the top ends of the posts 3. The ladder 2 is released and unfolded at the sides of the car so that people can climb up and down the car's rooftop easily.

As shown in FIG. 9, to load or unload the bicycles onto or from the car-top carrier device, the back diversion plate 1-4 is pulled back and rested on the ground so that the bicycle support members 1-2 are pulled out of the railing members 1. The back diversion plate 1-4 is retractable and therefore can be adjusted so that the bicycle support members 1-2 are slanted for easier loading and unloading of the bicycles. After the bicycles are loaded (and fastened) or unloaded, the back diversion plate 1-4 is lifted up and pushed so as to slide the bicycle support members 1-2 back into the railing members 1.

As shown in FIG. 12, the top board 4 can be lifted up for an appropriate distance so that some space is preserved between the top board 4 and the base boards 1-1 for storing some luggage.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A car-top carrier device for a car comprising: a pair of linear railing members positioned in parallel along the sides of said car's rooftop, respectively, each railing member having an inner rail facing towards the other railing member, a top rail facing upwards, and an outer rail facing outwards opposite to said inner rail; at least a base board slid into said inner rails of said railing members; a plurality of foldable posts, each having an end slid into a top rail of said railing members; a top board slidably positioned along said posts; a mosquito net attached to the bottom of said top board; a front bicycle support member and a back bicycle support member hinged together and slid into said outer rail of each railing member, each back bicycle support member having a outer rail on the outside allowing a bicycle to be parked and an inner rail on an inner side, each back bicycle support member having a wheel fastening belt for wrapping around a wheel rim of a bicycle and a bicycle fastening belt for holding said bicycle; a ladder having its top slid into said inner rail of a back bicycle support member, said ladder being foldable for storage behind said back bicycle support member; a front diversion plate fixedly attached to the front ends of said railing members across said car's rooftop; and a back diversion plate retractably attached to the back ends of said back bicycle support members. 